Surgeon, Author, And Inspiring Speaker, Dr. Seun Adetayo, Learns About Older Americans Awareness Month, Shares What She’s Learned Along With Stories Of Her 105-Year-Old Living Grandmother.
Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, writes about different cultural perspectives on aging and the elderly inspired by Older Americans Awareness Month.
OMAHA, NE – May 28, 2021 – Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, has posted a new blog on her website entitled, “Celebrating Older Americans Month: Lessons From My 105-year-old Living Grandmother.” Dr. Adetayo explores the cultural differences in how the elderly are treated around the world.
Dr. Adetayo writes, “I recently learned that the Month of May is Older Americans Month.” She continues adding, “I was surprised to learn that Older Americans Month was established way back in 1963. At that time, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday and, “About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs.” https://acl.gov/oam/history
“As of 2016,” Dr. Adetayo explains, “there were 49.2 million Americans who were 65 years of age or older, and that number is projected to double to 98 million by 2060. This website further adds that, “Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country.”
Dr. Adetayo states, “I truly admire how elders are respected and looked up to in my home country, similar to several other cultures around the world.” She elaborates, “The elderly are revered in so many different ways beginning with honorific language. For instance, mzee in Kiswahili – spoken in certain parts of Africa – is a term used by younger speakers to communicate a high level of respect for elders. Often,” she continues, “the aging to not enjoy such treatment here in the United States. In contrast, here in the United States, youth culture is revered, and aging is sometimes considered an impediment – something to be stopped, something to be hidden from view.”
A 2019 article in Parent’s Magazine expressed concern citing the American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics from 2017 that more than 21,000 teenagers had received Botox treatments. https://www.parents.com/news/more-girls-as-young-as-13-are-getting-botox-experts-warn/
Further on in Dr. Adetayo’s blog she writes, “I am originally from Nigeria in West Africa where aging is viewed differently than it is here in the United States. My grandmother turned 105 years old this year, and she is a vibrant and valued member of her community. I had the opportunity to go back and visit with her in January 2020 before the pandemic hit, and I am so glad that I had that opportunity to do so. She reminisced about the time in her youth when she and her friends went to the square to see various dignitaries, and stories of how they worked and lived life.”
The entire blog can be read at: http://seunadetayo.com/2021/05/24/celebrating-older-americans-month-lessons-from-my-105-year-old-living-grandmother/
About Dr. Adetayo
Dr. Seun Adetayo currently practices in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a board-certified Plastic Surgeon and a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is a Professor of Surgery, and Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Adetayo is unique in her field. As a gifted surgeon operating in a competitive field, Dr. Adetayo is also the first foreign-born (Nigerian) female minority surgeon to have built a successful nationally accredited multidisciplinary program for children with birth defects in Northeastern New York. She continued in this trajectory of helping patients and families as she now heads the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery where she serves as the Chief at the Children’s Hospital. Her journey has been dedicated to caring for patients and their families; mentorship for students, residents, and faculty; advocacy for legislation at local and national level; research; education; and community engagement and leadership. She shares her journey and strategies for success via her print material, meeting panels, blogs and speaking engagements.
Dr Adetayo has authored several book chapters in leading texts, including the second edition of Comprehensive Cleft Care which is an authoritative text volume on cleft and craniofacial disorders and treatment. She also authored a chapter in the Family Companion Guide for educating patients and families with cleft and craniofacial diagnoses. She was also the author of the chapter on treatment of zygoma fractures in the text Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery.
She has received over 40 awards and recognition, and her work has resulted in over 50 published works and over 60 presented works at regional, national, and international meetings. She is published in peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and Journal of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics.
Dr Adetayo plays an important role in mentoring and education in surgery, healthcare, and professional circles. She served as an invited surgeon and surgical educator during her last mission trip to Zimbabwe, where she served as the lead surgeon and guest lecturer for various hands-on plastic surgical reconstructions and teaching sessions. She is active in Women In Leadership lectures and advocacy. She served as a speaker for the Synthes collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Company on Improving Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare, and was one of four selected panelist speakers on Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery International Program by L’Oreal in conjunction with Resurge International. She was an invited speaker at the 2019 Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA) annual Women In Leadership Conference in upstate New York. In 2020, she served as the Keynote Speaker for the Stryker Women’s Network National Conference National Women in Surgery and Leadership event in California.
Dr. Adetayo has served in various community leadership positions including Chairperson of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Co-President of the Phi Delta Epsilon Premedical Society, Co-President of the Pritzker REMEDY Cuba Medical Aid Mission, Coordinator of the Chicago Local Chapter of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) program for inner city Chicago school kids. She currently serves as Managing Editor and Co-Chair of the Learning Resource Committee of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA).
She has been involved in various medical education and surgical trips to several countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nigeria, Peru, and Zimbabwe as educator and surgeon. She was awarded a Diploma of Honor conferred by the President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru. She collaborates on meaningful initiatives with various international organizations including Rotary International and The Smile Train on improving surgical outcomes, healthcare delivery, patient safety, and quality control standards in surgical reconstruction. She continues to be active in advocacy, and philanthropic efforts in developing children and advancing communities.
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